In the game, Ryu Hayabusa, the iconic super ninja of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, returns to the Sigma series to prevent the resurrection of the evil Archfiend by hunting down the Demon Statue stolen by the wicked Black Spider Ninja Clan. Players will battle from Tokyo to New York as Ryu encounters vicious enemies and acquires an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry along the way. The action lights up the Vita’s impressive OLED screen with graphical quality exceeding the original Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus takes the legendary action game to the next level with the all new “Ninja Race” mode, tag missions involving any combination of two characters, potent new weapons for Ryu Hyabusa, and a pre-order DLC including limited edition female costumes. To premier these new game elements, Team NINJA has released a new trailer and images highlighting the modes, weapons and costumes.

In “Ninja Race” mode, a slow ninja is a dead ninja as players race through dynamic courses to beat the clock. After choosing a character, level, and costume, players can strategically choose to dash through the course or viciously kill as many enemies as possible to earn boosts and points. The mode’s Combo Kill counter increases as foes are dispatched in sequence—the higher the counter, the more damage is dealt as long as the gauge stays filled. Three special essences, exclusive to the Ninja Race mode, boost the player’s chance of a successful mission: Green Essence adds time to the clock, White Essence boosts the Combo Kill counter for added damage, and Purple Essence grants Ninja Speed.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus now includes “Tag Missions” providing an exciting new way to combine the complementary strengths of any two characters. Players can switch between team members in real time as they try to complete challenges, with the other team member under AI control. With each fighter having different strengths and weaknesses, players can strategically tag back and forth when facing different opponents and situations by pressing down on the directional pad.

Ryu’s attacks can be enhanced with powerful weapons including “Emma’s Fang”, a massive sword that can decimate foes with slow but powerful swings. Legendary tales say the fearsome blade grows even stronger when it becomes bloodied. Worn on the hands and feet, “Falcon’s Talons” can quickly cut enemies to pieces with special attacks including the Izuna Drop and the sliding, leg-cutting Thunderous Attack. Steel-reinforced hardwood “Tonfas”, which can be swung from both hands to brutally crush enemies with their special Heavenly Justice combo, provide another option for mass destruction.

Last but not least, those who pre-order Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus will receive a DLC including unique, limited edition costumes for the female warriors Ayane, Rachel, and Momiji. Ranging from Ayane’s light armor to Rachel’s seductively spiky dress revealing her demon blood, the costumes are designed for both action and style.

An intuitive control system uses the front and rear touch screens and motion controls of the PS Vita, and new players will appreciate the inclusion of Hero Mode, which automatically boosts their attacks when their health is low. New modes include “Ninja Race,” where players compete with enemies at breakneck speed to reach the end goal, and “Tag Mission,” in which players can switch between two ninjas in real-time while defending the AI-controlled partner.